Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where Southern hospitality and sweet peach tea beckon, and where long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations…
Grayson Blake always has a purpose—and never a moment to lose. He’s come home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery…and leads him back to a beautiful and familiar stranger.
Once a ballet dancer, now co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter harbors pain as deep as the secrets buried beneath the mill. A bright facade can’t erase her regrets any more than a glass of bourbon can restore what she’s lost. But spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. And with the discovery of hidden messages in aged sheet music, both their hearts begin to open. Bound by attraction, and compelled to resolve an old crime that links the inn and the mill, Grayson and Valery encounter a song of hurt, truth…and hope.
SERIES: Honey Ridge #3
GENRE: Time-Slip/Southern Clean Romance
PUBLISHER: HQN Books
RELEASE DATE: July 25, 2017
PAGES: 352
Other Books In This Series
“…secrets have a way of revealing themselves eventually.”
Time-slip novels (aka dual timeline story threads that connect in some way) have recently become one of my go-to genres. So I was beyond thrilled to discover that the Honey Ridge series, including The Innkeeper’s Sister, is a time-slip story!
In the present day we follow Valery and Grayson, childhood friends who are reunited when Grayson and his brother Devlin arrive for an extended stay at Peach Orchard Inn which is run by Valery’s family. Sparks reignite immediately but both are harboring past failures and fears that affect their current actions and may put some obstacles in the path of their happily-ever-after.
Not to mention the skeleton unearthed when Grayson’s company begins to excavate a nearby abandoned mill with plans to turn it into a restaurant.
Which brings us to the historical portions of the novel.
A post Civil-War era mystery waits to be solved, and we are drawn in through peeks into the 1870s as well as clues left behind in the present and an eccentric old man who may know more than he’s telling. We know the main players from the 1870s mystery but what we don’t know (until it’s revealed, of course) is which of the intriguing characters match the skeleton discovered in the present day.
I loved everything about this story – from the contemporary Southern flavor to the post-Civil-War storyline to the romance and the gentle nudges of faith. It touches on deep issues from the past and in the present, hitting all the feels before all is said and done. The most intriguing aspect (for me) is the music that only Valery and Grayson hear – when no one is at the piano – and figuring out where Lem Tolly fits into it all.
Bottom Line: The Innkeeper’s Sister is a beautiful story of history, healing, and hope. Although this is the third book in a series, it works well as a stand alone. The romance is both tender and fan-inducing, and the historical elements add an element of intrigue to the overall story. Great characters and a poignant message of forgiveness and healing tie it all together.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 / Love it!
KissingBook Level: 3 / You may forget to breathe on occasion!
NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels to touch the heart as well as to entertain. Her emotional stories of hope have won the RITA, the Carol, the Reviewer’s Choice, and numerous other industry awards. A small town girl, Linda remains close to her roots, making her home in rural Oklahoma. She and husband have a blended family of eight, including two teenagers recently adopted from Ukraine. Many of her books are about family and children and rightly so, as she draws her deeply emotional stories from her surroundings, her great love of family, and from personal experiences as a nurse and teacher.
HQN Books is giving away a copy of The Innkeeper’s Sister to one of my readers! (US/CAN) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? Have you stayed at an inn/b&b before? What did you enjoy the most?
I have not stayed at an Inn or bed and breakfast before. What would appeal to me the most is getting away from it all and being able to read uninterupted.
not yet but I’ve heard it’s very friendly
I have not stayed at a B&B or inn before
We stayed in several inns/b&bs when we went to Germany/Switzerland/Austria. They were all delightful. A few years ago we stayed in a b&b in Gunnison, Utah. It was originally built by my great-great grandfather as a home. It was the first home in the area that had hot/cold running water. My great-great grandfather had a lot of businesses in the area and he, his father, and brothers were quite prominent there. The building was converted to a B & B a few years ago. We were able to provide the owner couple with some background information for it. Such a fun experience!
I have never stayed at a B&B.
Marilyn
this really sounds like a fantastic book. I love books that have many aspects of the characters lives that are revealed. we stayed at a B&B in Indiana years ago and it was wonderful. It was outside Shipshewana (Amish area) and it was decorated as the Amish would do there homes. they fed us wonderful meals and were extremely hospitable. we would definitely go back.
I’ve never stayed at a B&B or Inn. I would like to try it sometime.
Never stayed at a B&B but is really like to.
The mystery of the skeleton makes this sound like a very interesting book. Would love to win a copy.
I’ve never stayed at a B&B, but it would be fun.
I have never stayed at a Bed & Breakfast or inn. I would like to try it sometime.
The cover of this book is pretty?
haven’t
My husband and I stayed at a lovely B&B in Asheville, NC, once. The proprietor was lovely and we had a delightful time. You are a new author to me, and I would love to read your book. The story is intriguing and the cover is beautiful.
Hey Carrie, this sounds like a fun book to read! I’m with you in my recent enjoyment of dual-timeline stories. I have to thank the talented Sarah Monzon. She sets the bar high! Which leads me to my question… Is it Dual-Timeline or Time-slip?
When I hear Time-Slip I think, science fiction and time travel. I see others use time-slip and I got to thinking maybe they are interchangeable?
Regardless of what we call them (dual-timeline or time-slip) I’m going to add these to my #TBR!
I have never stayed at a B&B. But reading some of the reviews, I often think we might like to try it sometime.
I’ve never stayed at a b&b.
We have never stayed at a B&B but would love too. However, when you travel with a furbaby, where you stay is usually dictated by who accepts pets. 🙂
We stayed at a B&B in NY close to Canadian border on our way up to Quebec for our first anniversary. It was so quaint and peaceful and the innkeepers were so wonderful. We still have fond memories.
No I don’t think I’d be comfortable staying at one
I would like to maybe eat at one but I’m such an introvert that I wonder how weird it would be. Lol
I have not stayed at a B&B but I would like to!
I think I would too
Love a chance to read this one by linda!
I have stayed in one b and b and really enjoyed the atmosphere and antique furniture!
I bet it was pretty!!
One of my childhood friends had a grandmother who owned an old B&B. In the summer she would host a tea party complete with a full tea service and croquet on the lawn. We girls would dress in our fanciest dresses and feel like queens for the afternoon. It’s such a great memory of my childhood.
Oh how fun!!!!
I haven’t ever stayed at an Inn or B&B. I would love to have an opportunity to do so sometime, though.
I think I would too!
I have! The Inn Boonboro in Maryland is delightful because it is also the setting of a Nora Roberts trilogy by the same name, so you feel like you are inside a book when you are there!
I love her series based on the Inn.
No, haven’t stayed at one but would love to!
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
have never stayed at one, but have seen some gorgeous pictures, definitely on my bucket list 🙂
No I never have, I understand the food is supposed to be very good.
I have stayed at several bed and breakfasts. Some have been contemporary and some historical/Victorian. I love the nostalgia of the Victorian B&B’s. The B&B’s we’ve stayed in have always included a breakfast and snacks, which has always been fun and intriguing of what will be served and how it will be served. They have been pleasant and relaxing getaways, and I look forward to staying at more in the future 🙂
The Innkeeper’s Sister sounds sooo good. It’s going right onto my TBR list. The whole storyline and your review totally swept me away and left me wanting to know more! Thanks for your excellent review, Carrie, and the opportunity of this giveaway!
yay!! Thanks, Alison!
No, I haven’t had a chance but I think it would be a wonderful opportunity!